Winning is obviously more fun than losing but as I get more mature (read that as older) I find that some losses can be fun too, if the game is exciting and each player makes some good moves. The following game was played last November; both Jim Davies and I got off some fine shots. When I tried to win a probable draw, he got off the last good shot and it ended the game. Jim Davies - Bob Jacobs 1997 Missouri Invitational Opening: Ruy Lopez 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bd6 Not book but after White's passive 4th move, why not? In this type Ruy, Black's dark square bishop often comes back to f8 and g7, so let it defend the e pawn in the meantime. 5. Nbd2 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bb3 Na5 8. c4 Nxb3 9. Qxb3 0-0 10.cxb Rb8 11.a4 axb 12.Nc4 bxc! 13.Qxb8 cxd 14.Qb5 Nxe4 15.Qxd3 Nc5 16.Qf5 Ba6 17.Ng5 Bd3 18.Qh3 f6 19.b4 fxg5 20.bxc5 e4 21.cxd6 Qf6 22.Ra2 Qc3+ 23.Bd2 Qc4 24.Qxd7 Ra1 or b2 is met with Qd4 and Ra3 fails to Qc5. .....................Qxa2 25.Qxc7 Rxf2 A flashy move but perhaps good enough only to draw. The win is there via 25......Bc4! 26.Qc8+ Rf8 27.d7 Threatening Qxf8. .....................Qa1+ 28.Bc1 Qd4 29.Bxg5 Qb4+ 30.Bd2 Qb1+ 31.Bc1 Qb6 32.Bg5 Qa4+ Trying to win a draw is about to prove disastrous. 33.Bd2 Qf4 34.Qxf8! Qxf8 35.Ba5 At this point I was too stunned to resign, but Jim had no difficulty finishing up. 1-0